Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald)
Al Nejashi: Tigrai’s Timeless Symbol of Faith and Religious Harmony
By Yemabe Gedilu
In the peaceful highlands of Tigrai, nestled in the village of Negash, stands a spiritual beacon whose legacy reaches beyond borders and centuries. Al Nejashi Mosque — often hailed as the “Second Mecca” — is not merely a place of prayer, but a profound testament to Tigrai’s enduring tradition of religious tolerance, compassion, and hospitality.
This ancient mosque, believed to have been established in the 7th century by the first followers of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who fled persecution in Mecca, is the oldest mosque in Africa. They were welcomed with open arms by the Christian king of Aksum — Negus Armah — a just ruler who offered protection, shelter, and dignity to people of another faith. In this historical act of solidarity, Tigrai became the birthplace of Africa’s first Islamic community, where Muslims and Christians lived side by side in mutual respect.
Tigrai’s sacred terrain holds many such stories. For centuries, the Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism have coexisted not in competition, but in collaboration. The people of Tigrai, with their deep-rooted belief in community, have always prioritized kinship over division, and love over dogma. Whether in the market squares of Wukro, the ancient churches of Gheralta, or the winding roads of Adwa, faith is not a wall but a bridge — one that connects hearts rather than separates them.
The legacy of Negash stands as a powerful narrative in Tigrayan consciousness: that religious identity does not undermine shared identity. Instead, it strengthens it. Across the villages and towns of Tigrai, interfaith respect is not a political statement — it is a way of life, passed from parent to child, sung in lullabies, and practiced in everyday gestures of goodwill.
Landmarks like the Al Nejashi Mosque, the churches of Abreha we Atsbeha, and the monasteries of Debre Damo and Maryam Korkor are not isolated sanctuaries, but interconnected symbols of a civilization that has, for thousands of years, placed spiritual harmony at its core.
Today, as Tigrai continues to rise from the ashes of hardship, it does so holding tightly to its heritage of coexistence. Community elders, religious leaders, and youth across the region engage in local interfaith dialogues, maintain shared sacred spaces, and renew commitments to peace — not because it is easy, but because it is true to who they are.
Al Nejashi is not only the pride of Muslims or Tigrayans — it is the pride of humanity.
It whispers a timeless truth: that when people open their hearts to each other’s beliefs, they open the door to a future built on trust, respect, and unity.
Yemane Gedlu Gezahegn is a Tourism expert who workes Tigrai Culture and Tourism Bureau.
